Texas Tech dean gets USDA appointment

Nov 07, 2002

John R. Abernathy, dean of Texas Tech University's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education and Economics Advisory Board. USDA Secretary Ann M. Veneman made the appointment.

The board is composed of 31 members, each representing a specific category related to agriculture. Abernathy was appointed to represent non-land grant colleges and universities.

Texas Tech in Lubbock is a non-land grant university.

“I look forward to being able to have input in the national agenda and to see how that can be helpful to our clientele in Texas.”

Marvin Cepica, executive associate dean of Texas Tech's College of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources, says it's a great honor to have someone from Texas Tech representing the nation's non-land grant entities.

“It is the most important appointment of any committee in the country, relative to advising the USDA of what priorities it should pursue at the federal level,” Cepica said.